SUV: 2013 Mazda CX-5

Originally published: October 31, 2012

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Having soldiered on with the Tribute for way too long, Mazda finally ditched it for the CX-5. As with its larger siblings, it arrives with strong styling and plenty of zoom-zoom.

The CX-5, which is offered in GX, GS and GT guises, is also the first Mazda to get the full SkyActiv treatment. The thrust of SkyActiv goes well beyond the powertrain to include the body and suspension. It is an all-encompassing philosophy that has one simple goal – make the recipient environmentally friendly and efficient without killing the joy of the drive.

In the CX-5’s case, it starts with the 2.0-litre direct-injected four-cylinder. With a compression ratio of 13:1, the CX-5’s engine is the highest to be found in production. The secret to running an engine this way while consuming regular gasoline is simple – get all of the exhaust gas out of the engine, which keeps things cooler.

The use of a four-into-two-into-one exhaust manifold accomplishes this without causing harmful cold-start emissions. The engine, as employed in the CX-5, produces 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. These aren’t outstanding numbers, but they are enough to get the job done.

The CX-5’s power is put the road through a six-speed manual (base GX only) or automatic transmission and the front or all four wheels. For me, however, the better choice proves to be the automatic. Kickdown is willing and there is a manual mode should the need arise.

There are similar differences between the front-drive and all-wheel-drive models. The front-drive CX-5 is balanced and sure-footed, but the better choice is all-wheel drive (which is optional on the GX and GS). In this instance, the system always sends some power to the rear wheels; how much depends on vehicle load, road conditions and so on.

Inside, the CX-5 is nicely equipped. The GX includes air conditioning and the usual power options, along with cruise control and push-button start. The GS adds content such as heated front seats, six-way driver’s seat, Bluetooth, 5.8-inch colour information display – which includes a backup camera – and it brings the safety of blind spot monitoring. The GT comes loaded – leather, automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers, a nine-speaker Bose sound system and so on.

The CX-5 is well rounded and will give its peers a real run for their money.